Google no longer displays the old HTC One (M7), Sony (Xperia) Z Ultra, or the LG G Pad 8.3 on its page of GPe phones. That leaves the One M8, Galaxy S4, and Moto G as the only remaining options. Directly accessing now-removed links to the three discontinued models reveals “no longer available for sale” messages.

Abandoning the M7 makes enough sense, considering the M8’s been available for a while now, but the other dismissals are a little hard to understand; we only saw the Z Ultra and G Pad 8.3 join the GPe family back in December, giving them a lifespan of just under seven months. Even in the fast-paced world of smartphones, that’s pretty short.

So, where do we go from here? We would love to know, but Google’s not speaking up to clarify things. A GPe Galaxy S5 still seems like a solid possibility, but beyond that, the lineup’s future is less than clear.

Stephen has been writing about electronics since 2008, which only serves to frustrate him that he waited so long to combine his love of gadgets and his degree in writing. In his spare time, he collects console and arcade game hardware, is a motorcycle enthusiast, and enjoys trapping blue crabs. Stephen's first mobile device was a 624 MHz Dell Axim X30, which he's convinced is still a viable platform. Stephen longs for a market where phones are sold independently of service, and bandwidth is cheap and plentiful; he's not holding his breath. In the meantime, he devours smartphone news and tries to sort out the juicy bitsRead more about Stephen Schenck!